Signature Assignment 

Antiderivatives
A train accelerates and decelerates at the rate of 0.2ft/s2​ ​. Its maximum cruising speed is 75mi/h.
Given that there are 5280 feet in one mile, use your knowledge of the relationship between
position, velocity and acceleration to answer the following questions.
Convert the given information into common units.
1mile
Acceleration = 0.2ft/s​2​ ( 5280f t ) = ​0.000037879 mi/s​
2

1hr 1min
Velocity = 75mi/h ( 60min ) ( 60sec ) = ​0.0208333 mi/s
Calculate the time for the train to acceleration/deceleration v= at
0.0208333 mi/s = 0.000037879 mi/s​2 ​(t)
0.0208333 mi/s
t = 0.000037879 mi/s2 = ​550 sec

Calculate the distance covered in the acceleration/deceleration time d = 12 at 2

d = 12 (0.000037879mi/sec 2 )(550sec) 2
= 5.729 miles

a) In a total of 40 minutes, the train starts from rest, accelerates to its maximum cruising speed
and continues at that speed for a time, and then must come to a complete stop. What is the
distance it has traveled? Give your answer in miles.
Convert minutes to seconds 40min(60sec/min) = 2400 sec
Subtract acceleration and deceleration time to find the time the train travels at max speed
t = 2400 - 2(550)
= 1300 sec
Find the distance traveled in 1300 seconds at 75mi/hr
d = 0.0208333mi/sec(1300sec)
= 27.083 miles
Add the distance traveled during acceleration and deceleration to distance traveled at max speed
Total distance = 2(5.729) + 27.083
= 38.5 miles
b) Find the minimum time it would take the train to travel between two consecutive stations that
are 50 miles apart. Give your answer in minutes.
Subtract miles traveled during acceleration and deceleration to find the miles traveled at max
speed
= 50 - 2(5.729)
= 38.542 miles
Find time it took to travel 38.542 miles at max speed
38.542mi
t = 0.0208333mi/sec = ​1850.019 sec
Find total time by adding acceleration and deceleration time to time at max speed
Total time = 2(550) + 1850.019
= 2950.019 sec
1min
Convert to minutes 2950.019 sec 60 sec =​ 49.2 min

c) If the minimum time from one station to the next is 15 minutes, how far apart are the stations?
Give your answer in miles.
Convert minutes to seconds 15min(60sec/min) = 900 sec
Because the time is shorter than the time it takes for the train to accelerate and decelerate, we
will use the equation d = 12 at 2

d = 12 (0.000037839mi/sec 2 )(900sec) 2
=15.3 miles

d) Find the minimum time it would take the train to travel between two consecutive stations that
are 10 miles apart. Give your answer in minutes.
From the previous question we know that the train will not reach its max speed during a ten mile
period therefore we will again use the equation d = 12 at 2
Plug in our known values d and a and solve for t
10 miles = 12 (0.00037879)t 2
10mi
t 2 = 0.000037879mi/sec2
 √t2= √ 10mi
0.000037879mi/sec2

t = 726.63 sec
Convert to minutes
1min
726.63 sec 60 sec = ​12.1 min

Reflection:
Solving this problem was a lot of trial and error along with common sense. I had a hard time
figuring out the antiderivative equation that must be used then using the acceleration. I
troubleshooted this by paying really close attention to the units and whether or not they were
canceling out correctly. I feel that I gained new knowledge in problem solving and correctly
using units. I gained new insight on how helpful units are. They are usually thought of as
annoying and trivial when we are asked to include them when solving word problems, but in this
case they were extremely helpful to me. A real world example of using antiderivatives that will
apply to me in my future career is finding the smallest amount of material that must be used to
create a container that will hold the maximum amount of chemical.